Orthodontic biassing device

ABSTRACT

An orthodontic biassing device is in the form of an elongated spring or sleeve having an elongated peripheral opening suitable for the passage of an arch wire therethrough. A spring is described which is formed by bending a continuous wire in the form of a repeating triangular pattern having two opposing sets of alternating peaks so that the peaks, when brought adjacent to one another and the wire, subsequent to bending of the same, substantially define a cylindrical surface with an elongated opening formed by the spaced adjacent peaks. According to another embodiment, a spring is formed by bending a helical coil along one of its axial edge portions so as to indent the turns of the helical coil along the axial edge portions substantially into closed C-shaped turns to thereby form a cylindrical cavity interiorly of the C-shaped turns which is suitable for receiving an arch wire. The springs are easily mounted on arch wire sections extending between two adjacent brackets - the springs forming a biassing device on the arch wire for either pushing the brackets away from one another or drawing them towards one another. A sleeve, advantageously apertured or in the form of a bellows, is described which functions similarly to the spring.

United States Patent [191 Wallshein j 111] 3, 15,237 June 11, 1974 1 1ORTHODONTIC BIASS ING DEVICE [76] Inventor: Melvin Wallshein, 8645 BayPky.,

Brooklyn, NY. 11214 22 Filed: Nov. 29, 1972' [21] Appl. No.: 310,573

[52] US. Cl 32/14 A [51 Int. Cl. A6lc 7/00 [58] Field of. Search267/180; 32/14 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,816,73612/1957 Shepherd 267/17 X 2,888,258 5/1959 Hoffstrom 267/181 3,593,4217/1971 Brader 32/14 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 837,122 4/1952Germany 267/180 Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock Attorney, Agent, orFirm--Friedman & Goodman [57] ABSTRACT An orthodontic biassing device isin the form of an elongated spring or sleeve having an elongatedperipheral opening suitable for the passage of an arch wiretherethrough. A spring is described which is formed by bending acontinuous wire in the form of a repeating triangular pattern having twoopposing sets of alternating peaks so that the peaks, when broughtadjacent to one another and the wire, subsequent to bending of the same,substantially define a cylindrical surface with an elongated openingformed by the spaced adjacent peaks. According to another embodiment, aspring is formed by bending a helical coil along one of 7 its axial edgeportions so as to indent the turns of the helical coil along the axialedge portions substantially into closed C-shaped turns to thereby form acylindrical cavity interiorly of the C-shaped turns which is suitablefor receiving an arch wire. The springs are easily,mounted on arch wiresections extending between two adjacent brackets the springs forming abiassing device on the arch wire for either pushing the brackets awayfrom one another or drawing them towards one another. A sleeve,advantageously apertured or in the form of a bellows, is described whichfunctions similarly to the spring.

11 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUH 1 1 I974 SHEET 1 BF 2 FlG.

FIGS.

A. G F

FIGS

PATENTEUJUNH 1514 3.81523? SHEET 2 BF 2 1 ORTHODONTIC BIASSING DEVICEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to orthodonticbiassing devices, and more particularly to an orthodontic spring andsleeve which have elongated lateral openings which can be enlarged forpassage therethrough of an arch wire section.

The use of springs as well as other elastic and/or resilient devices inthe field of orthodontics is well known. However, the springs which havebeen utilized thus far have been in the form of conventional helicalsprings. The disadvantage in the use of such helical springs consists inthe difficulty with which they are mounted on an arch wire. Helicalsprings do not provide a convenient access to the cylindrical cavitydefined by the helical turns. There essentially exists two methodspresently available for mounting a helical spring on an arch wire. Thefirst way isto pass the arch wire through the end openings of i thespring before the arch wire is mounted and connected to brackets in aconventional manner. Although the springs are easily mounted on the archwire at this time, this is not always possible and frequently a springmust be mounted on an arch wire after the latter has been fixed to thebrackets by, for example, tie wires. After the arch. wire has so beenfixed and connected, it is possible, of course, to free the arch wire.from the connections thus made to the brackets andthereafter insert thearch wire through the end openings of the spring as described above.However, the disconnection of the arch wire from the brackets andthe;reconnectionsubsequentlyafter the spring has been mounted thereonrepresents an unnecessary expenditure of time and money. Frequently, itis simpler, instead of disconnecting the arch wire from each of thebrackets, to simply cut the arch wire or destroy it and start a newmountingthe spring on a new arch wire and connecting the latter to thebrackets. Alternately, it is possible to engage the arch wire with theend of the outside turn of the helical spring and then turning thehelical spring in such a mannerso that successive turns become engagedwith a section of the arch wire. This procedure is similarlyinconvenient and wasteful insofar as time and expense is concerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide anorthodontic biassing device which is notpossessed of the above described disadvantages inherent in comparableprior art devices.

It is another-object of the present invention to provide an orthodonticbiassing device which is simple in constructionand economical tomanufacture.

it is stillanother object of the present invention to provideuanorthodontic biassing device of the type under discussion which isconvenient to mount on an brackets towards each other or push them awayfrom one another.

It is yet a further object of the-present invention to provide a methodfor constructing an orthodontic biassingdevice of the type underdiscussion.

It is an additional object to providean orthodontic spring and sleeveeach of which is provided with an elongated slot along a peripheralportion thereof for passage of an arch wire therethrough, said springand- /or sleeve being suitable .to bias adjacent brackets through whichthearch wire passes.

In order to achievethe above objects, as well as others which willbecome apparent hereafter, the orthodontic biassing device inaccordancewith the present invention is suitable for use with two spacedorthodontic brackets and an orthodontic arch wire section extendingbetween the two brackets. The device comprises a resilient memberadapted to extend between the two brackets and configurated to define ahollow cylindrical surface adapted to receive the arch wire sectioninteriorly thereof. Said member includes an' elongated peripheralopening generally extending along the length of said cylindricalsurface. Said opening has a width smaller than the diameter of the archwire. In this manner, once said member is urged onto the wire section byresiliently enlarging the width of said opening while passing the wiresection therethrough, said member becomes securely mounted on the wiresection and may thereafter act on the two brackets.

According to a presently preferred embodiment, said cylindrical surfaceis in the form of a circular cylindrical surface and said member is madefrom a continuous resilient wire.

A presently preferred construction of themember comprises alternatinglyspaced triangular wire bracing portions positioned to eachside of saidelongated opening. Wire connecting portions are provided each of whichconnects two adjacent bracing portions positioned on opposite sides ofsaid opening.

Other preferred constructions of said resilient member include slottedhelical coils as well as slotted sleeves which are either apertured orwhich are in the form of a bellows.

According to one arrangement, said opening gener ally defines a straightopening on said surface substan tially parallel to the axis of saidcylindrical surface. According to another arrangement, said openinggenerally defines a helical openingon said surface about the axis of thelatter.

The method of forming the orthodontic biassing de vice in accordancewith the present invention comprises the steps of forming from acontinuous wire a repeating triangular pattern having "two opposing setsof alternating peaks. The triangular wire pattern is subsequently bentso as to bring opposing peaks adjacent one another. In this manner, thewire comprising the triangular pattern substantially defines acylindrical surface with an elongated opening formed. by said spacedadjacent peaks.

According to a further method in accordance with the present invention,a biassing device is made by bending a helical coil along one of itsaxial edge portions so as to indent the turns of the helical coil alongthe axial edge portion substantially into closed C- shaped turns tothereby form a cylindrical cavity exteriorly of the helical coilsuitable for receiving an arch wire section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS With the above and additional objectsand advantages in view, as will hereinafter appear, this inventioncomprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of apreferred embodiment in which:

FIG. I is a front elevational view of a plurality of spaced bracketsmounted on adjacent tceth (not shown) and an arch wire extending throughthe brackets, and showing springs in accordance with the presentinvention mounted on arch wire sections between adjacent brackets;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a bracket of FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a continuous wire in the form of arepeating triangular pattern from which the springs of FIG. 1 aremanufactured;

FIG. 4 is an end view of a coil in accordance with the present inventionof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a spring in accordance with thepresent invention made from the triangular wire pattern of FIG. 5subsequent to bending the same and mounting on an arch wire;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 5 wherein the wire peaks of the triangularpattern are spaced further apart from each other;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 5 wherein the spring is made from the wiretriangular pattern of FIG. 7;

FIG.9 is similar to FIG. 7 wherein successive adjacent wire peaksprogressively rise with reference to the general direction defined bythe wire triangular pattern;

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 8 wherein the spring is made from thetriangular pattern of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 8 wherein the spring is shown undercompression;

FIG. 12 is an end view of a spring in accordance with another embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a biassingdevice in accordance with the present invention in the form ofadeformable bellows comprising a plurality of truncated cones;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment similar tothe bellows of FIG. 13 but wherein the truncated cones are replaced bycircular cylindrical sections with rounded peripheries; and

FIGS. 15 and 16 are yet further embodiments of the present invention,each in the form of an apertured sleeve which is deformable along itsaxis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS conjunction withedgewise brackets and any other type of brackets, e.g., Begg brackets orany other brackets, may similarly be utilized.

An arch wire 14 is contained in the channels 12 the arch wire sectionspositioned between adjacent brackets generally being designated by thereference numerals 14. The arch wire 14 is connected to the brackets 10in a conventional manner by the use of tie wires 16. Referring to FIG.2, the brackets 10 each have wings I8 which, together with the bands 11,form tie wire retaining channels. The manner of securing the arch wiresto the brackets is conventional and does not form part of the presentinvention.

Mounted on each of the arch wire sections 14 is a spring 19 inaccordance with the present invention.

The details of the springs 19 will be described in connection with FIGS.35. According to one presently preferred embodiment, the spring 19 ismade from a continuous wire in the form of a repeating triangularpattern 20 shown in FIG. 5. The triangular patterns 20 have a pluralityof adjacent upper wire peaks 22 and a plurality of adjacent lower wirepeaks 22. Connecting successive ones of the upper and lower peaksrespectively are connecting portions 24. The method of forming thespring in accordance with the present invention comprises the step ofbending the wire triangular pattern 20 substantially into a circularconfiguration as shown in FIG. 4. In this configuration, alternatingpeaks 20, 22 respectively are brought adjacently one another while theconnection portions 24 are each bent substantially into circularconfigurations. The bent connecting portions 24 together generallydefine a circular cylindrical surface having a hollow cavity 26 and alateral opening 28, best seen in FIG. 4, substantially parallel to theaxis of the cylindrical surface. The dimensions of the cavity 26 are soselected so that arch wire section 14 may be received therein. Althoughthe cross-section of the spring 19 is shown in FIGv 4 to essentially becircular, it should be clear that any other cross-section, includingsquare or rectangular crosssections, may be utilized while achieving thesame advantages as with the circular cross-section.

Referring to FIG. 5, each of the wire peaks act 'as a triangular bracingportion the connecting portions 24 connecting successive ones of thebracing portions along the axial direction of the spring.

The width of the opening 28 is selected to be smaller than the diameterof the arch wire section 14' so that when the spring 19 is urged ontothe arch wire 14, the opening 28 must be resiliently enlarged toaccommodate the arch wire section 14. In some circumstances, it may bedesirable to reduce the width of the slot 28 to zero or even cause theopposite edge portions to overlap. However, once the spring 19 has beenmounted onto the arch wire section 14', as shown in FIG. 5, the springis securely mounted thereon. Advantageously, the spring 39 is made fromany resilient material which can provide compressive forces whencompressed along the axial direction or which can provide tensil forceswhen stretched along the axial direction. Any suitable material commonlyused for helical springs, e.g., spring steel, may thus be utilized. Itis also contemplated, that the springs 19 be made from any suitableelastomeric material in the form of hardened rubbers or plastics.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are similar to FIGS. 3 and 5. However, the wire peaks 32of the wire triangular pattern 30, as

well as the .wirepeaks 32', are spaced further from each other than arethe wire peaks in FIG. 3.-Accordingly,

The repeating wire triangular pattern'40 of FIG. 9 may be defined ashaving a longitudinal direction along which the repeating-triangularpattern extends. In the cases of FIGS. 3, 7 and '9, the directions alongwhich the-triangular patterns-extend are generally horizontal directionsas viewed in those figures. In FIG. 9, successive upper wirepeaks42a+42d as well as successive lower wire peaks 42a-42d progressivelyrise one above the other while moving towards theright. In FIG; 10, therepeatingwire triangular pattern 40ofFIG. 9 is shown mounted on an archwire section 14 after'the pattern has been bent as generally describedabove. It will be noted that'the resulting lateral opening issubstantially helical about the axis of the spring. A helical openinghas the advantage that it further prevents the archwire section 14" frompassing therethrough when such passage is not desired.

FIG. 11 illustrates the positions of the connecting portions 34 whenfthespring is placed under compressron. I Z

I A further embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG'Q12. Aspring 50 has a plurality of spaced outer turns52and a plurality ofspaced inner turns 54 each respectively-connected to the external turns52 in such a manner as to together define a helical configuration. Theresulting spring has an internal cavity'56 and anexternalcavity58 whichis dimensionedto receive an arch wire section 14. Advantageously, inorder to take up the least spacein the mouth, the internal cavity 56ismade as small as possible. The method of producing a spring as shownin FIG. 12 consists in the step of bending a helical coil along one ofits peripheralaxial edge portions so as to indent the turns of thehelical coil along the axial edge portion substantially into closedC-shaped turns; The resulting cylindrical cavity 58, ex

- teriorly of the helical coil, thus becomessuitable for reeral opening60. d

With-respect to allof the above described embodiceiving an arch wiresection through an elongated latmerits, the springs are in the generalform of slotted open sleeves. The above described embodiments are merelyillustrative and arenot intended to limit the precisespringconfiguration which-may come within the scope and spirit of thepresent invention. Thus, for example, a, spring in accordance with thepresent invention may equally consist of a substantially closed orapertured sleeve slotted along one of its peripheral edges to provide anopening for passage of an arch wire as described above. d

Examplesof sleeve configurations suitable for purposes described aboveareshown in FIGS. 13-16. In FIG..13, a sleeve '50 comprising a pluralityof series of hollow truncated cone sections 52 is in the nature of abellows havinga slot 54 along a peripheral portion thereof. Avariationr'if the bellows sleeve of FIG. 13

is shown in FIG. 14' wherein a bellows arrangement 60 comprises a seriesof'hollow cylindrical sections having rounded peripheries; The bellows60 is similarly provided with a slot 64. Other bellows configurationswhich are flexible-along their axial directions can equally be 'used.;lnFIG. 15, a sleeve is provided aboutits cylindrical surface with aplurality of rectangular apertures 72 and-an elongated peripheral slot74. The only variation of the sleeve of FIG. ;l 6.is that. the apertures82 are triangular. The slot 84 corresponds to slot 74. The bellows 5,0,60 and thesleeves 70, 80 can be made from any elastic material such asrubber, plastic, metal and so on. 5

With respect to all the above described embodiments, when the length ofthe spring is selected toibe greater than the length of an arch wiresection 14 between two adjacent brackets 10, the spring 19 is placedunder compression and the spring .biasses the brackets wire section .14between two adjacent brackets 10. In

such case, the ends of the springs 19-may be connected to .the'bracketsin aconventional manner so as to generate tensil forces which tend topull the two brackets in directions towards each other. i 7

Although some of the above-described coils have been shown .anddescribed as being made-from a re peating wire triangular pattern, it should be clear that any other repeating or undulatingrpattern cansimilarly be used. Thus, the peaks, instead of being pointed, could berounded and, the pattern could ;be wave-like, e.g'. sinusoidal.

Numerous alterations of the I closed will suggest themselves to those'skilled in the art; However, his to beunderstood that the presentdisclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention which is forpurposes-of illustration only and is not to be construed as a lim itationof theinvention. What is claimed is: 1 L'Orthodontic biassingdevice comp'rising'in combination two spaced orthodonticbracketssuitable for mounting on respective adjacent teeth and havinglateral surfaces; ari orthodontic arch wire section extending betweensaid two brackets; and an'elongate resilient memberdefining acylindrical surface and a hollow cylindrical. cavity configurated toreceive said arch wire section in substantiallycoaxial relation, saidresilient member being in a state of compression along the length whenmounted'on said archwire' sectiorithereof to cause each end to abutagainst a lateral surface of another one of said brackets, saidresilient member including an elongate opening generally extending alongthe length thereof to provide access to saidcylindrical cavity, saidopening having a width smaller than the diameter of said arch wiresection, whereby once said resilient'member is urged onto said arch wiresection by resiliently enlarging the width of said opening and passingsaid arch wire section therethrough, said resilient member becomessecurely mounted on said arch wire section and acts on said brackets tomove the same apart.

2. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 1,

wherein said cylindrical surface is 'in'the form of a circularcylindrical surface.

' 3. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 1, I

structure herein dis each connecting two adjacent bracing portionspositioned on opposite sides of said opening.

5. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 2, wherein saidelongate opening generally defines a straight opening on said surfacesubstantially parallel to the axis of said cylindrical surface.

6. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 2, wherein saidopening generally defines a helical opening on said surface about theaxis of the latter.

7. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidmember is in the form of an elongate bellows flexible along its axisandhaving an elongate slot along a peripheralportion thereof.

8. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 7, wherein said slotis substantially parallel to said axis.

11. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidresilient member is formed by bending a helical coil along one of itsaxial edge portions so as to indent theturns of the helical coil alongthe axial edge portion substantially into closed C-shaped turns tothereby form a cylindrical cavity exteriorly of the helical coil.

1. Orthodontic biassing device comprising in combination two spaced orthodontic brackets suitable for mounting on respective adjacent teeth and having lateral surfaces; an orthodontic arch wire section extending between said two brackets; and an elongate resilient member defining a cylindrical surface and a hollow cylindrical cavity configurated to receive said arch wire section in substantially coaxial relation, said resilient member being in a state of compression along the length when mounted on said archwire section thereof to cause each end to abut against a lateral surface of another one of said brackets, said resilient member including an elongate opening generally extending along the length thereof to provide access to said cylindrical cavity, said opening having a width smaller than the diameter of said arch wire section, whereby once said resilient member is urged onto said arch wire section by resiliently enlarging the width of said opening and passing said arch wire section therethrough, said resilient member becomes securely mounted on said arch wire section and acts on said brackets to move the same apart.
 2. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical surface is in the form of a circular cylindrical surface.
 3. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said resilient member is made from a continuous resilient wire.
 4. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said resilient member comprise alternately spaced triangular bracing portions positioned to each side of said elongate opening, and connecting portions each connecting two adjacent bracing portions positioned on opposite sides of said opening.
 5. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 2, wherein said elongate opening generally defines a straight opening on said surface substantially parallel to the axis of said cylindrical surface.
 6. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 2, wherein said opening generally defines a helical opening on said surface about the axis of the latter.
 7. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said member is in the form of an elongate bellows flexible along its axis and having an elongate slot along a peripheral portion thereof.
 8. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 7, wherein said slot is substantially parallel to said axis.
 9. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said member is in the form of an elongate apertured sleeve flexible along its axis and having an elongate slot along a peripheral portion thereof.
 10. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 9, wherein said slot is substantially parallel to said axis.
 11. Orthodontic biassing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said resilient member is formed by bending a helical coil along one of its axial edge portions so as to indent the turns of the helical coil along the axial edge portion substantially into closed C-shaped turns to thereby form a cylindrical cavity exteriorly of the helical coil. 